Our controversial game

KMP Softball update
So, those that follow my blog, might already know we have a game from Monday under protest. Now, Malach wasn't at the game, instead he was sweltering in a Elementary School Gym for his son's Kindergarten Graduation.

So, here's what occurred. We were playing the Isotopes, a team we are very competitive with (currently they are in 3rd, we are in 1st). We were the home team, went into the bottom of the 7th (we play 7) tied in the last inning. Let's set the scene. 2 out, Justin is on first, our best hitter, and our left power hitter is up. He hits a rocket of a shot down the right field line; the right fielder was for some reason playing 30' off the line. The hit, went past the foul pole and rolled, Justin is already heading home, Darren just rounded 2nd and is headed for 3rd, when the manager of the other team calls a ground rule double, which of course freezes everything. The hit was hit so hard, it went over the asphalt path about 300' out and continued rolling.

Well, we have never had any type of hitting ground rule there, so the opposing manager is immediately questioned about it (remember it is our home field, with our ground rules). He states, that during the Championship last year, an umpire (the only time we use umpires in the playoffs, another story) called that same type of hit a ground rule double. Darren, who was the acting manager, argued a bit, but since he is not the true manager agreed to abide by that rule we had never heard of, and if we lost the game, he would protest. Needless to say the next batter pops out, and the Isotopes go on to win in 8th.

Of course, the game in now under protest. I want the win, which we should have and Malach has pulled out all the stops. Here is a satellite image of Livesey Field where we play, with highlighted boundaries.

As you can see, the path crosses into Fair territory and about 300' out, in addition, the path does not make a good out-of-play/ground rule boundary as it runs pretty much parallel to the field. Theoretically, one could hit a 500' shot and it would still be called a ground rule double? In addition, in left field, approximately 350' away, there is a skate park, and we have never called a ground rule double for that either (even when it was easier to do with metal bats). I also argued, that we play in a field in Westport, which does have hitting ground rules. Here is a satellite image of that field.

As you can see, the field in surrounded by woods, and is kind of in the middle of the woods (remind to tell you about all the animal encounters there; yeah it is very "If you build it they will come"). In deep right field, approximately 300' away, if it rolls into the woods, it is a ground rule triple (in the air a home run). So, with that being said, if the hit at Livesey is going to be anything it would have to be a ground rule triple, right, which means we still win.

Of course there are a lot more debates/arguments to this, including playing under rules one team does not know about; my batter adjusting his swing based on ground rules; and that we have been playing there for 8 years, more than 120 games and have never once called any type of ground rule there.

I will keep you updated with the goings on with this game.

I am Malach, and I should of been a lawyer.